Nathaniel Wilson Baptist III, known as “Wilson,” to family, friends, and nearly everyone who knew him, passed away on July 5, 2025, after complications from a stroke. He was 85.
Wilson was born into a legacy of entrepreneurship and community service. The son of Buddy Baptist and grandson of Nathaniel Wilson Baptist, Wilson carried forward a family business that began with a horse and buggy and a dream.
His grandfather, a traveling salesman who famously borrowed against his life insurance to start a business, laid the groundwork for what would become Baptist Incorporated. It began as Baptist Hardware and evolved under Wilson’s father into a dedicated sporting goods store. It was later expanded by Wilson into a regional enterprise. Under his leadership, Baptist Inc. became known throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and parts of Arkansas as a trusted supplier of athletic equipment for schools—helmets, bats, lettermen jackets, and more—delivered with warmth by a team of salesmen Wilson considered family.
One of Wilson’s proudest personal moments came in Alaska, where he shot a massive brown bear during a hunting expedition in Kodiak. The bear made the exclusive Boone and Crocket list. It was later named “Buddy” by local schoolchildren— a touching nod to his father—and now stands in the Pottawatomie Museum in Shawnee.
Born and raised in Shawnee, Wilson graduated from Shawnee High School and later attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was a proud member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He studied accounting and served his country as a Captain in the US Air Force for four years, including time stationed in Michigan, and Alaska.
Wilson leaves behind three siblings: Carolyn, Ann, and Richard. The youngest, Richard (who was born 12 years after Wilson), joined him in a separate sporting goods business, the Athletic Village. The family also includes beloved nieces and nephews. Carolyn's sons Michael and Benton Maples, Richard's sons Brett and Blake Baptist and Ann's daughter Wendy.
Wilson was preceded in death by his parents N.W. Baptist, Jr. and Jane von Storch Baptist. He leaves a wide circle of devoted friends, including his lifelong compatriots Bill Ford and Dick Deem who he met in kindergarten. Dick introduced him to his favorite treat, 'The Dilly Bar'. He loved to eat at Charleston's and took countless people there to dine. He had many loyal employees who stood by him and visited often during his illness. To them, he was more than a boss—he was family.
A memorial service will be held Aug. 9th at 2 pm at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church 501 North Broadway, Shawnee, OK under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.
